Bamboo is becoming a substitute for wood and cotton on many levels. From houses to flooring, cabinetry and even window treatments, the benefits of bamboo are creating a surge in demand for this product. Because bamboo is a sustainable resource, meaning it replenishes itself in a short amount of time, growing demand doesn’t deplete bamboo forests or cause the long-term devastation to habitat that logging oak, pine or other woods does.

Cotton, the fabric of many American’s lives wreaks havoc on the environment. Most cotton farmers douse cotton with pesticides and insecticides in order to prevent boll weevils and other destructive insects. Those chemicals leach into the earth and eventually into ground water. When it rains, pesticides and insecticides run off into streams and lakes where they cause damage to aquatic life and to the animals that drink out of those streams, such as deer, elk, foxes and more. Cotton also requires a lot of water in which to grow. Whereas bamboo is a rain-fed plant, meaning it survives off the moisture in the environment, cotton requires millions of gallons of irrigated water to grow, thus depleting fresh water resources.

While wood grows naturally in its habitat, wood grows at a much slower rate than bamboo does. When forests are clear-cut, it takes generations for them to replenish. By contrast, bamboo grows approximately 4 inches a day and is constantly replenishing itself.

In essence, bamboo is a weed. It is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. Bamboo has twice the compression strength of concrete and roughly the same strength to weight ratio as steel, reports Bamboo Living Home. Bamboo has long been used in pacific countries and is now being considered for use in building homes along fault lines, as bamboo moves with the earth, instead of trying to brace against it.

Another benefit of growing bamboo is it absorbs close to 30 tons of CO2 for each acre of plant. This helps reduce the heat emitted by human use into the environment. In a home, bamboo offers simplicity in design, with an exotic flair.

Bamboo products are often less expensive than wood products. Tavarua Basics Bamboo rollup shades are an economic alternative to other wood products while being easy on the earth. Because bamboo can grow at virtually any climate and doesn’t require insecticides or pesticides to grow, bamboo doesn’t pollute waterways with chemical sprays like cotton does, and it also doesn’t interfere with beneficial insects that live in the environment.

Tavarua rollup bamboo blinds provide shading without complete privacy and are woven to filter light. Bamboo rollup shades weave bamboo, using the natural colors and textures of the plant for a chic, easy style. Wood flooring also works with the natural shades and designs of the plant for a unique, warm feel in any home.

Bamboo has far-reaching benefits for use in homes, clothing and design. As consumers seek out environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical laden products, bamboo is sprouting up over and over again.